Who is the biggest killer on the planet?

One Million Deaths Every Year

The most deadly animal in the world is the mosquito. It might seem impossible that
something so miniscule can kill so many people, but it's true. According to the World
Health Organization, mosquito bites result in the deaths of more than 1 million people
every year. The majority of these deaths are due to malaria. The World Health
Organization estimates that between 300 and 500 million cases of malaria occur each
year -- and a child dies from malaria every 30 seconds.

The Female Anopheles is to Blame

It's not the mosquito itself that kills, but rather a parasite the mosquito carries. Not all
mosquitoes carry the malaria parasite -- only females of the Anopheles genus. You'll find
the Anopheles all over the world, with the exception of Antarctica. The mosquito
transmits malaria after biting an infected person and then passes along the parasite to the
next person it nibbles on. Malaria is a blood-transmitted disease, which means you can't
contract it from casual contact with another person. Because it's transmitted through the
blood, you can contract it from a contaminated transfusion or needle. But mosquitoes are
primarily to blame for the spread of malaria infection.

Only a Minor Problem in the US

The United States no longer considers malaria a public health issue. The disease virtually
disappeared in the 1950s when the National Malaria Eradication Program implemented a
DDT (a synthetic pesticide) program to control the mosquito population [source: CDC].
However, this program saw limited success in the rest of the world. Nations with a
temperate climate and seasonal mosquito issues were able to eradicate malaria. But in
other countries, resistance to insecticides and drugs, cuts in funding and lack of
participation made long-term eradication efforts impossible. The United States still
reports a few hundred malaria cases per year. But most cases occur in travelers returning
from a malaria-ridden country [source: CDC].

Sub-Saharan Africa is Hit the Hardest

Today, the majority of malaria deaths occur in Africa, south of the Sahara, where the
malaria parasite is very common. Anyone can contract malaria, but the people most likely
to get seriously or fatally ill are those with little or no immunity -- young children,
pregnant women or travelers who live in an area that has no malaria. People from poor
communities with little access to health care and clean water sources -- standing water is
a prime mosquito breeding ground -- are also at risk. Anti-malarial drugs exist, but there's
currently no malaria vaccine.

Bed Nets and Spraying to Control

Affected countries now turn to malaria control rather than eradication. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention refers to these activities as vector control. Vector control
means decreasing contact between humans and disease carriers on an area-by-area basis.
The aim is to cut down on the mosquito parasite population using insecticide treated nets
that drape over people's beds, indoor spraying and larval (egg) control. Insecticide treated
bed nets in particular can cut mortality rates by 20 percent [source: CDC].
Other Mosquito Borne Diseases West Nile and Dengue Fever
In addition to malaria, mosquitoes carry the West Nile virus and dengue fever. West Nile
is a disease the insects pick up from infected birds. It affects the nervous system and, like
malaria, can be very serious in people with lowered immune systems. The virus became
prevalent for the first time in the eastern United States around 1999 [source: CDC]. As
with malaria, the best way to avoid West Nile is to protect yourself from mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes also carry dengue fever, which causes a rash and extreme muscle and joint
pain. It can be fatal if not treated properly.
So, forget lions, tigers and bears -- turn your paranoia to the teeny mosquito buzzing near
your ear. It's one scary little beast.

Another KillerBambi Gets Honorable Mention

In North America, you might fear the grizzly, but it's white-tailed deer that kill an
average of 130 Americans per year by causing auto accidents. Deer collide with cars
more than 1.5 million times per year. Compare that to about 24 fatal grizzly attacks in the
past decade. Keep alert for the doe-eyed menace.